Our Tikkun Olam Commission developed a set of criteria to guide its social justice recommendations for the movement. Every couple of years, the Commission will advise that the Reconstructionist movement concentrate on a new issue which, on balance, best meets these criteria. Here’s how the wealth gap meets the criteria we’ve set for a movement-wide focus.
Rabbi Toba Spitzer shares detailed guidelines and best practices on communal discussions around Israel.
A collection of resources for congregational dialogue on Israel, drawn from within and outside the movement
In this resource guide, Rabbis Fred Dobb and Nathan Martin present a plethora of resources to help congregations become shomrei adamah – responsible guardians of the Earth.
Rabbi Harris’s article focuses on the benefits that non-Jews, mostly with Jewish partners, bring to the community. Harris leads us away from the “framework of cost” to open up the conversation on intermarriage.
Rabbi Michelle Greenfield examines Biblical and rabbinic sources on disability. She examines the use and misuse of Hebrew texts that are often quoted when talking about inclusion of people with different abilities. Her English commentary provides a deeper understanding of these texts’ strengths and limitations.
Wine is the traditional vehicle for prominent Jewish ritual moments. At the same, Jewish communities contain people who struggle with alcohol. Rabbi Richard Hirsh outlines simple steps to recognize and support all in a community who wish to participate.
Drawing on the surprisingly sophisticated classical Jewish perspective on sex and gender, Rabbi David Teutch advocates for celebration and inclusion of transgender people as a fundamental issue of justice.
With few transgender role models, Rabbi Jacob Lieberman, ’15, faced harassment and bullying almost entirely alone growing up. As an adult, he found acceptance within the Reconstructionist community and from himself. In this d’var torah, Rabbi Lieberman shares how Jewish resources can help comfort those who struggle to find acceptance and wholeness.